Connecting Journeys - Homelessness Prevention and Housing Support
Homelessness and housing are issues that affect everyone living in Middlesex County. The Middlesex County Homeless Prevention and Housing Plan ("Plan") commits to addressing housing and homelessness in Middlesex County.
Each plan incorporates the strategies and actions that will guide our work. Housing and homelessness are community issues. The plan calls on all sectors to work together to build solutions and move them to action.
The strength of the plan is to built from the experiences, insights, and ideas of our community partners – individuals and families with lived experience, service providers, funders, advocates, residents, experts, and policymakers. The Plan also builds on the foundational work communities have been doing in Middlesex County to meet the needs of individuals and families.
Find support
Homelessness Prevention and Housing Supports
Problems with hydro bills?
Do you have an eviction notice?
You may be eligible for some help through the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)
This program is sponsored by the Government of Ontario and administered by the County of Middlesex
HPP may be available to OW and ODSP recipients as well as low-income residents of Middlesex County
To see if you qualify for help through HPP, contact Middlesex County Human Services, at 519-930-1012 or email @email
If you are already on OW or ODSP, please contact your caseworker.
Homeless Prevention and Housing Stability Plans
Housing Stability Action Plan - 2026 to 2031
The London & Middlesex Housing Stability Action Plan (2016-2031) is a community-wide roadmap that guides how Middlesex County and London will work together to prevent homelessness, increase access to safe and affordable housing, and provide the supports people need to stay housed. It builds on partnerships across all levels of government and the community to move toward a shared goal of Housing Stability for All.
What’s Happening
Middlesex County is updating its Housing Stability Action Plan for 2026 to 2031, and we want to hear from you. The update will help the County of Middlesex and the City of London develop a shared community Housing Stability Action Plan. It will also provide an opportunity to identify local needs and priorities for the next decade.
Coming soon - Review the Draft Housing Stability Action Plan (2026–2031)
Your Feedback Matters
Middlesex County residents shared their experiences, insights, and ideas on housing and homelessness through surveys, consultation sessions, and targeted outreach as part of phase one of the London & Middlesex Housing Stability Action Plan (2026–2031) update.
Based on that input, we’ve developed draft strategic areas of focus, strategies, and actions to guide our community’s efforts. As part of our validation phase, we’re seeking community feedback on the draft strategies and actions included in the plan.
How to Provide Your Feedback
Complete a Survey: To share your feedback, complete a survey by Thursday, April 16, 2026, and invite others to do the same.
Take the Survey - Starting Monday, March 23
Attend a Drop-In Open House: Speak with Middlesex County staff and share your feedback in person: Dates and locations coming soon.
What is the process to update the London & Middlesex Housing Stability Action Plan (2026-2031)?
Background
Under the Housing Services Act, 2011, Service Managers are required to review their housing stability plans every five years. Local plans must extend for a period of 10 years after the review. The City of London is the Service Manager for London and Middlesex.
Service Managers last reviewed and approved their local plans by December 2019 and are expected to review them again starting in 2024, with submission in May 2026, to meet the requirements under the Housing Services Act.
Therefore, the City of London Housing Stability Action Plan 2019 – 2024 and Middlesex County Homeless Prevention and Housing Plan 2019 – 2024 are both being reviewed through this process. The review will result in one comprehensive plan for the County of Middlesex and the City of London.
The London & Middlesex County Housing Stability Action Plan (2026-2031) will be informed by and is intended to complement Ontario’s Homeless Prevention Program, the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy and Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
This London & Middlesex County Housing Stability Action Plan (2026-2031) will advance the goal of housing stability for individuals and families in the County of Middlesex and the City of London.
Homeless Prevention and Housing Plan - 2019 to 2024
Homelessness and housing are issues that affect everyone living in Middlesex County. The Middlesex County Homeless Prevention and Housing Plan ("Plan") commits to addressing housing and homelessness in Middlesex County.
Each plan incorporates the strategies and actions that will guide our work. Housing and homelessness are community issues. The plan calls on all sectors to work together to build solutions and move them to action.
The strength of the plan is to built from the experiences, insights, and ideas of our community partners – individuals and families with lived experience, service providers, funders, advocates, residents, experts, and policymakers. The Plan also builds on the foundational work communities have been doing in Middlesex County to meet the needs of individuals and families.
Background
Under the Housing Services Act, 2011, Service Managers are required to review their homeless prevention and housing plans every five years. Local plans must extend for a period of 10 years after the review. The City of London is the Service Manager for London and Middlesex.
Service Managers last reviewed and approved their local plans by December 2019 and are expected to start a review of their local plans in 2024 to meet the requirements under the Housing Services Act.
Therefore, the City of London Housing Stability Action Plan 2019 – 2024 and Middlesex County Homeless Prevention and Housing Plan 2019 – 2024 will both be reviewed through this process. It is expected that the review will result in one comprehensive plan for the County of Middlesex and the City of London.
The plan will be informed by and is intended to complement Ontario’s Homeless Prevention Program, the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy and Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
This plan will advance the goal of housing stability for individuals and families in the County of Middlesex and City of London.
How will the plan be developed?
- Consultation – Opportunities to share insights and ideas will be made available. (September 2024 – November 2024)
- Plan Preparation – The information gathered through the community consultation process will be used to prepare draft strategies and actions. (December 2024 – February 2025)
- Plan Approval – Municipal Councils of the County of Middlesex and the City of London will review and approve the plan. (March 2025 – April 2025)
The timelines may change depending on direction from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Learn more
Education
Learn more about housing stability and homelessness prevention in Middlesex County.
Homelessness Facts
Homelessness is only an urban problem.
Homelessness exists in rural communities across Canada. It just looks different. While people may be living on the streets, community members may also be couch surfing, sleeping in abandoned buildings, living in vehicles or homes without heat and electricity, or staying in motels and shelters. It is important to consider the entire spectrum of homelessness, as everyone’s journeys and experiences are different.
Rural communities don’t have homelessness because everyone knows everyone.
Because of the hidden nature of homelessness, you may not be aware of community members who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. In smaller communities, stigma and anonymity often can prevent community members from reaching out.
There are plenty of affordable housing options in rural areas.
There are few and limited affordable housing options in rural communities. In rural communities, rental housing is often limited, and at times is in poor condition or too expensive for people to afford.
If you’re homeless in a rural area, you can just go live off the land.
No one chooses to be homeless. In Canada’s harsh climate, many people experiencing homelessness suffer from frostbite, physical health challenges and tragically, some lose their lives.
Rural homelessness isn’t as serious or urgent.
Rural communities are facing increasing pressures with limited services. As urban systems become overwhelmed, more rural communities across Canada are taking action to provide prevention programs, housing supports, and develop emergency accommodations and supportive housing, often without sufficient funding or support.
Rural homelessness statistics are low, so it’s not a big issue.
Rural homelessness is significantly underreported due to data gaps. However, research is emerging that shows that rural homelessness is occurring at per capita rates that are equal to or greater than some of Canada’s largest urban centres (Schiff et al., 2023).
Rural homelessness is mostly caused by addiction or mental illness.
While addiction and mental illness may lead to some people experiencing homelessness, people often develop these challenges as a result of the trauma and instability caused by homelessness. Homelessness is driven by a number of complex factors including poverty, the loss of employment, domestic violence or systemic barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized groups.